We Believe...
​A Brief Confession of Faith

• Scripture

We believe that the Bible is God’s true and holy Word.It is the authoritative standard for the faith and practice of the church.It was inspired by God and is inerrant in all that it teaches. (John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:16-21)

• God

We believe that there is One, and Only One, God.However, this One God exists as three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.The three Persons are distinct but are all equally God and share in the same Divine nature.They are equal in all of the Divine attributes but differ in role.For instance, regarding our salvation, God the Father planned our salvation, God the Son accomplished our salvation, and God the Holy Spirit applies our salvation.God is eternal, loving, gracious, merciful, just, righteous, and holy. (Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Exodus 34: 6-7)

• Creation

We believe that God is the Creator of all things.He created the world and everything in it in six literal days.His creation is meant to reflect His character and display His glory. (Genesis 1; Revelation 4:11; Psalm 19:1-6)

• Man

We believe that man (men and women) is the pinnacle of God’s creation.Humans are unique in creation in that they are the only created beings made in the image of God.Man is meant to fill the earth and rule over it as God’s vice-regents.Despite man’s perfect state in the beginning, the first humans plunged the world into sin and death by disobeying God.Their sin has been inherited by all those who would come after them, leaving the human race in a hopeless state, separated from God. (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 3; Romans 3:10-18)

• Jesus Christ

We believe that God the Father sent God the Son (Jesus Christ) into the world on a divine rescue mission to win back people from sin’s clutches.Jesus is fully God and fully man.He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin.Jesus lived a completely sinless life, making Him the only candidate to save us from sin. (John 3:16; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Peter 2:22)

• Atonement and Resurrection

We believe that Christ died for our sins as a completely spotless sacrifice.He was our substitute and paid the penalty for sin in our place.God the Father punished Christ for our sin on the cross.Since Jesus accomplished our salvation through his death, death itself could not hold Him.Jesus rose bodily from the grave three days later and reigns this day from Heaven as the King of Kings. (Isaiah 53; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 15:12-20)

• Salvation

We believe that salvation is accomplished by God’s grace alone through faith alone.Salvation is not earned, either through good works or Christian sacraments.From first to last, salvation is of God.His Spirit enables us to respond to Him in repentance and faith.Salvation does not occur apart from the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.Good works follow genuine faith in Christ but do not serve as a basis for a right standing with God. (Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 10:9-17; Galatians 2:15-21)

• The Church

We believe that the church is the universal body of believers in Jesus Christ.Within this universal church, there are local churches comprising of believers who voluntarily come together in a specific location to worship, pray, teach, and serve.Believers become members of local churches through the ordinance of baptism, the initiating sign of the new covenant.The church also practices the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper, the ongoing sign of the new covenant.The church is led by elders (pastors) and deacons. (Matthew 16:13-19; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Timothy 3: 1-13)

• Marriage and Family

We believe that marriage is a covenant instituted by God that joins one man and one woman into a lifelong commitment.The family is this married couple along with any and all children whom God decides to give them, either by natural birth or adoption.God-defined marriage and family is crucial for both healthy societies and healthy churches.Husbands are to lovingly lead their families and represent Christ to them.Wives are to submit to their husbands as they would to Christ.Children are to obey their mother and their father. (Matthew 19:1-9; Ephesians 5:22-33; Ephesians 6:1-4)

• Last things

We believe that Jesus Christ will return physically to earth one day to gather his followers and to judge the earth.Those whom He has redeemed will be with Him forever in a new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells.Sin, death, and mourning will be forever banished from our eternal home.Those who have rejected Christ will be separated from Him in hell.Until that day, we faithfully teach and preach the gospel and make disciples to the ends of the earth. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 21: 1-8; Matthew 28:18-20)